More Trump Being Krasnov

Krasnov has again, predictably, behaved with perfect disgrace in saying that "We've given a lot to Ukraine. They've given nothing to us. Remember that.” Remember rather this,

Priceless things that Ukraine has given to the United States:

        1. The example of a truly courageous and resilient nation. (We seem to have forgotten what one looks like.)

        2. A true picture of Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime—their brutality, their weakness, their blindness, and the emptiness of their civic institutions.

        3. An innovative template for war-fighting in the digital era.

        4. The image of a genuine patriot president.

        5. A wake-up call to our own dithering Republic.

Perhaps, in a couple of weeks, we can begin to put an end to this madness.

The Latest from President Krasnov

Donald Trump, who will go deeply, deeply down as the worst president in American history, twice, has called for a new president in Ukraine. His latest gambit on behalf of his Russian handler—to support the Russian war effort by buying up its diesel product—plants a kiss firmly on both of President Vladimir Putin’s saggy cheeks. Of the countries best served by a change in presidency, Ukraine would be the last.

Our apologies, thanks, and continued admiration to President Zelenskiiy and the Ukrainian people for their amazing resolve, resistance, and resilience.  

Let the Wildberries Burn

In spite of the fact that material and moral support from the U.S. government approaches next to nothing in its life-and-death struggle with Russia, Ukraine perseveres doughtily, resiliently, innovatively, a continuing example of national righteousness and physical courage. Recent news reports and critical battlefield assessments even grant these Slavic brothers and sisters an edge, an advantage with regard to the war’s on-goingness. I suspend my own pessimistic tendencies to think so, or at least entertain that possibility. Something I can do, among my small, small efforts. Spectate and hope.

Mister Nobody Against Putin

Four years later, the war in Ukraine drags on with no end in sight. As some wars do. Stalemate: brutal invasion vs. heroic virtue + timorous/insufficient support. Well over a year after the infamously duplicit peace-maker failed to resolve matters in a promised day, the drones continue their work, and Russian soldiers continue to die. Missiles continue to launch, and Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer the consequences, death, injury, and cold.

Long live Ukraine. (Which might require Putin to die. Think about it, Vladimir. It is an off-ramp of sorts.)

Trumpushka

So reported The Beast: 

The Kremlin’s chief propagandist could hardly contain his excitement during his Tuesday show, The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, reveling in U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest flurry of imperial aspirations and destructive moves against Western alliances.

Decorated state TV host Vladimir Solovyov danced, pranced, and praised Russia’s beloved “Trumpushka,” a man he has previously described as “our agent Trump.”

Now, dementia could be a part of Trump’s increasing instability and disinhibition, but it remains a reasonable and foundational inference that Trump’s pro-Russian agency has much more to do with Putin’s owning him. And that ownership threatens not only Ukraine, but Europe, and America as well. 

Here in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we’re being occupied by our fledgling dictator’s not-so-secret police.   

Not Calling Just to Say 'Hi"

My headline reads “Hours before he is scheduled to meet Zelensky, Trump reports ‘productive’ Putin call”. Productive for Putin, I suspect, in that Vlady probably reminded his useful idiot of all the stuff he has on DJT. Given Donald’s aging and evidences of dementia, his memory may not be what it once was, and Putin needed to remind him that without Russia, Donald might well be in prison. And could be yet.

With Friends Like US

The shame of American policy with regard to Ukraine is coming complete with the 28-point Trumpian Surrender Proposal: Biden because he failed; Trump because he is poised to succeed on behalf of his handler, V. Putin. Can there really be any doubt that DJT is a Russian asset? Cowardly and corrupt of tragically historic proportions. With an equally cowardly and corrupt and feckless Republican House and Senate. Alas, there is no shame among them.

Nostra culpa, nostra culpa.

Tomahawked

There are Tomahawks and there is talk of Tomahawks. “We may do it. We may not. But we may do it.” “Maybe, maybe not.” These were the big, beautiful, decisive words of TACO Don, just before he became TALKO Don. After consulting with his model tyrant and possible handler/blackmailer, Vlad Putin the First, TALKO decided against supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine. No surprise. Trump Always Lets Kriminals Off.

Drones Over Poland

So, now, Donald Trump’s puppet-master in Russia has provocatively launched some drones into Poland. What will the putative leader of the free world do? Probably nothing. Why? Any number of reasons.

Again, my inference is that Putin has him somehow by the short hairs. No national leader can be so geopolitically ignorant, so lacking in self- and national-respect, and so uncoercedly servile as to misunderstand Putin’s behavior and contempt for this President of the United States. Trump must have no choice but to take it like a simp.

Second, Trump sees nothing in it for himself—anymore. They don’t give out a Nobel Prize for Surrender, which is how a bone-spurred draft-dodger seems to understand peace-making in Ukraine.

Third, the spirit shown by President Zelensky and Ukraine—intrepid, innovative, resilient, and fundamentally decent—is not only foreign to Donald Trump, it’s a standing rebuke to how he understands the world and lives his life.

Any energy, leadership, or creative initiative in support of Ukraine will originate elsewhere than the Oval Office. There remain a few senatorial Cold War holdovers in the RINO Party who might be able to join with Democrats to counter Putin’s most recent aggressions. Perhaps Europe will assemble a backbone. Such are the non-despotic paths to resistance. As they should be.

Alaska

The deference that Trump pays to Vladimir Putin does not, to my eye, require genuine empathy or admiration. (I have my doubts that Trump has any genuinely positive regard for anyone but himself.) He might envy Putin’s power and position and might even respect the ruthlessness exhibited to get there, but Trump’s complimentary attitude, like all Trumpian attitudes, is a purely self-serving performance. Putin must have something on Trump—there are so many possibilities! Trump bows, scrapes, and fawns because really, he has no choice. Putin owns him.

  

50 Days

Commander-in-Chief Bonespurs has set a deadline of 50 days for Vladimir Putin to conclude a peace with Ukraine. (That’s like, “forever” in Donnie time.) Given the Furor’s lack of adherence to self-imposed deadlines for diplomacy generally, tariffs and tariff deal-making, and 24-hour war-stopping, I don’t suppose Putin is overly concerned with Comrade Kompromat’s recent “change of tone.” Nor should he be. It is probably just the media jawboning of a compliant monkey who’d otherwise surrender outright if he could. Indeed, while he promised weaponry that should have been delivered months ago, he also proscribed using it on Moscow. How’s that for tough talk. 

On the other hand, it would be wonderfully ironic if the source of Donald’s newfound attitude were Melania’s early memories of the good old Soviet Union. There is hope, it seems, but always from where you little expect.         

Two Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Hours Later

On the campaign trail last year, Herr Trumpf claimed that if elected president, he could end Russia’s imperial war on Ukraine in twenty-four hours. He never explained how he might do that. Even surrendering unconditionally usually takes longer—which was my sense of his grand plan. His treatment of Ukraine and President Zelenskiy, so petulant and shoddy, his obsequious regard for Putin, and his hopes for post-war lucre in Russia all signaled a rather ignominious capitulation as the best that could be expected from Trumpist policy. He can’t even do that, thankfully. Two thousand four hundred and forty hours later, there is no peace, not even a cease-fire agreement, in Ukraine, with his Secretary of State threatening to walk out on peace talks. Peace, apparently, is harder work than anyone in this administration ever thought—if “thinking” is the correct term for the invertebrate neural processes that direct U.S. government activity these days.

Concern for Ukraine is as genuine and sustained among those of us who care as it has ever been, but Trump and his Republican gofers dither on Ukraine while they ramp up economic hostilities on the rest of our friends and allies. You are not alone, Ukraine. The U.S. soon may be.